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Tina Marshall, EMA/EMS Planner with the Lawrence County Department of Public Safety, has been awarded the "Pennsylvania Commendation Medal" from the Pennsylvania National Guard. The medal was issued by Governor Tom Corbett and the Adjutant General of the PA National Guard, Major General Wesley E. Craig.

Tina was instrumental in coordinating a large portion of the bioterror portion of the "Vigilant Guard" exercise which occurred in May 2014. According to the PA National Guard, Vigilant Guard was designed to improve interoperability between agencies in disaster situations. With more than 2,500 participants including: eight National Guards, U.S. NORTHCOM, more than 20 Pennsylvania state agencies, more than three federal agencies, and other agencies, this exercise demonstrated a massive united response to multiple simulated disaster scenarios. According to the Guard, Vigilant Guard 2014 was the largest guard exercise in the nation. Although there were over 2,500 participants and planners, only a few received the Pennsylvania Commendation Medal.

Tina worked tirelessly on planning the portions of the exercise that involved Lawrence County, including the receipt of the strategic national stockpile from the Department of Health as well as a simulated incident site at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds. She also escorted the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Deputy Adjutant General as well as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The award was presented to the Department of Public Safety on Tina's behalf at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency annual conference in Seven Springs in October, 2014. Tina was awarded the medal by the County Commissioners at their meeting on October 7, 2014.

The Department of Public Safety is proud of Tina's accomplishment and most importantly recognizes that Lawrence County is more prepared for such events due to her hard work and dedication.